Round 4

Q: WIth Dwayne Jerrett getting arrested this morning for DWI, his stock seems to have fallen to a new low. Combine that with the pedestrian numbers of Mike Williams and Keary Colbert and one might start to think that USC receivers aren't very good. With only Steve Smith finding success in the league thus far, are USC coaches a little concerned that USC will become known for having receivers who do well in college (system) and go bust in the NFL (a la Florida quarterbacks under Spurrier)?

A: I wouldn't label Colbert in that group, since he just signed a nice contract with Denver and is always maximized his talent, like Smith. Neither was super fast but made the most of good hands and good routes. Now Jarrett and Williams are another story. I think they could be tied together to other USC players who seem overrated. Work habits, which sometimes were ignored in college, catch up to you in the NFL.
I wouldn't worry about USC being known for receivers who do well in college, if last year was any indication.

Q: Our hoops team couldn't clean a car window, let alone a glass backboard for most of the season. Suddenly, shockingly, we outrebound our final 6 opponents, including the tall Xmas trees at Stanford. To what do you attribute this amazing improvement in rebounding? And, in a similar tact, how do you rate Coach Floyd's performance this season? Did he get screwed in the coach of the year voting? Is he well on his way to gaining recognition as an elite college coach? Is the coaching staff underrated? Thanks Scott.

A: I think USC played with a lot of energy in every game but Arizona State following that numbing performance against UCLA. As for Floyd, basketball coaches rate him very highly and I think even his first year was a sign of his coaching ability. If coaching were the only criteria for success, USC could probably make the Final Four.
But I don't think he got screwed for coach of the year. Stanford was 24-6. And I'm sure Tony Bennett only wishes he could convince an O.J. Mayo or Taj Gibson to come to Washington State. Off topic, but Cougar forward Kyle Weaver should have made the first team. He's the best defensive player in the league and gets the least credit.
But I digress. I don't think the coaching staff at USC is underrated. Floyd's erased the backstabbing of the Henry Bibby era that many in the athletic dept. turned a blind eye to for years. And Floyd created an environment for success. I'd be lying if I didn't say some things this season do not pass the smell test (see last week's Wall Street Journal story) but overall the program is solid, as long as too many guys do not turn pro early.